Getting My MBA at 48

Great interview, Sounds like a good book to read

I was sifting through the articles on the BBC when I came across an article “Matters of Degree: Inside Harvard Business School” by Peter Day. Now this isn’t just an article it also has a recorded interview, Peter Day interviews Philip Delves-Broughton for 23 minutes about his book “What They Teach You at Harvard Business School” (title for the rest of the world) and “Ahead of the Power Curve: Two Years at HBS” (the title in the USA)

After reading the article, I suggest reading the article first, then listen to the interview. I was very much impressed with Philip Delves-Broughton, an the moment I get some free time I shall pick up a copy of his book and read it.

Harvard Business School starting teaching business students in 1908 and last year celebrated 100 years of teaching business, the oldest school in the USA to teach business students is Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College started in 1900.

He talks about the practices, the language of business, the professors, and change that is needed at business schools. Without spoiling to much of the interview it is interesting to have someone who is originally from a different country give his perspective on HBS after attending 2004-2006.

I would very much be interested to know if anyone has read his book and what they thought.

Tags: online university

Mismanaged

This post is because of my mismanaged time (or I guess) or my perception of what should have happened and did not happen.

I spent most of the morning and early afternoon getting things done so I could commute home. It was my 4th day on stand-by, Friday is going was to be one of my days offs this month. My stand-by shift today was from 3-11:59 p.m.

So after finishing the things I wanted to do I headed off to the airport figuring I could get released around 8 p.m. Then catch the flight home, 2 hour flight should give some study time and a little more before getting some sleep. Then tomorrow get up hit the gym and spend the remainder of the day studying.

Well that was all based on them (scheduling) releasing me (me assuming). Please keep in mind if they needed me to work they have to give me a call 2 hours before I start work. So the earliest then that they used me would have been 10 p.m. and have me back by Midnight. So I thought my time management for the day was working. Guess what, they said they couldn’t release me from duty.

Now since I wasn’t released from duty to commute home. I had just spent a good 6 hours of time, (getting ready, going to the airport, waiting for the flight) that now I can’t get back, and to top it off I still need to fly home in the morning. Just to fly back on Saturday morning for a 2 day trip I picked up on my days off, for extra money.

Now I submitted my essay yesterday, but I still have some study questions and modules to finish. Basically today is a total wash for studying. I don’t wish to get behind on studying and days like this make it a challenge to keep up.

Now I could be really angry that I wasn’t  released, blame it on the schedulers wanting to control your life, or mismanaged resources by some manager, or have taken the chance risk getting in trouble and hopped the flight home. I did get mad some but that was because of my own expectations of what I had planned for my day.

Yes with going to an on-line University, I am able to adjust some of my study time, but you can’t put off studying or it will really pile up on you. Believe me when I say I feel the pressure of deadlines for assignments more so than when I was in a regular classroom. Because they are self induced, I don’t want to fail, this chance given to me to increase my knowledge, get my M.B.A. and upgrade my career.

You have to be a self starter to do this kind of studying. Discipline its tough sometimes. But it is all you. In between work, family life, chores at home and studying your plate is full. But it is a good plate I made, and I will make it.

Tags: online university